Henri J. M. Nouwen - A Spirituality of Living

THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES

A Spirituality of Living

Copyright 2011 The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust.

All rights reserved.

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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The New Jerusalem Bible , copyright 1985 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

Scripture quotations designated NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible , copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover and Interior Design: Sue Smith and Pearson & Co.

Cover art: Gogh, Vincent van (1888). Men Unloading a Boat at Arles. Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain /Art Resource, NY.

Photo on page 62 by Mary Ellen Kronstein. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Nouwen, Henri J. M.

A spirituality of living / by Henri J. M. Nouwen.

p. cm. (The Henri Nouwen spirituality series)

Henri J.M. Nouwens works cited--P.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-0-8358-1088-3

1. Christian life--Catholic authors. I. Title.

BX2350.3.N6925 2012

248.4'82dc23

2011036058

Printed in the United States of America

H enri Nouwen sought the center of things. Never content to observe life from the sidelines, his approach to new experiences and relationships was full throttle. He looked at the world with the enthusiastic anticipation of a child, convinced that right in the midst of life he would find the God who loves us without conditions. Helping us recognize this God in the very fabric of our lives was the enduring passion of Henris life and ministry.

The Henri Nouwen Spirituality Series embodies Henris legacy of compassionate engagement with contemporary issues and concerns. Developed through a partnership between the Henri Nouwen Society and Upper Room Ministries, the Series offers fresh presentations of themes close to Henris heart. We hope each volume will help you discover that in your daily round God is closer than you think.

T his book is coherent, compelling, and contains one of the most important teachings that Henri Nouwen ever gave. It is the fruit of Henri Nouwens life as an academic, his deep engagement in the lives of countless people, his capacity for self-reflection, and his grounding in the life, spirit, and teaching of Jesus. It is not voluminous. While it probably did not take Henri a long time to write this text, it is the life wisdom of one of the spiritual masters of our time.

Each of us longs to live well, to experience love and belonging, to be connected to family and friends, and to make our unique contribution to others. But what path shall we take? What will lead us to the fulfillment of our deepest longings? In short, how shall we live? Henri offers us a spirituality that addresses these questionsa spirituality for living, a spirituality that has the potential to transform our lives.

I met Henri Nouwen in 1984 at Jean Vaniers LArche community in Trosly-Breuil, France. Henri was on a sabbatical from Harvard University, living in LArche, and I was a worker-assistant in the same community. We began a friendship that deepened over the next decade as we both assumed leadership within LArche.

I knew, of course, that Henri was a teacher and a writer; he had degrees in psychology and theology and had positions at prestigious universities. But I discovered that he was also a lifelong student of himself and others. Our personal friendship and work in the context of LArche gave me an unexpected glimpse into Henris own exploration of lifes most important questions. And I was an eyewitness to his deep listening to otherspeople from all walks of life, of diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, both the weak and the strong.

Henri accompanied people who were falling in love and those who were grieving the loss of a failed relationship. He came close to and sat with people who were dying. He joyfully joined in the private and public celebrations of new birth. Henri listened deeply to people who were social justice activists and also to others who felt drawn to a more inner, contemplative way of living. Henri walked with people who were depressed and suicidal as well as those who were at the prime of their personal creativity. He was friends with people who had enormous wealth and those whose only wealth was the largesse of their hearts.

Through all of this Henri came to know the contours of the human heart.

Like others before him, Henri believed that our journey to become more fully human is a spiritual journey that begins and ends in the heart of God. And as a spiritual cartographer, he mapped out a path that we can follow.

In the following pages, Henri invites us to think about our lives in terms of three interconnected moments that he sees modeled in the life of Jesus: solitude, community, and compassionate service to others. It is through solitude and prayer that we can stay in touch with our truest identity as children of God. This leads us into relationships with others in community where we learn to celebrate and forgive. Then, it is these relationships that sustain us as we reach out to serve others through compassionate ministry.

Henris deepest longings were touched as he made the choice to enter into this cycle of solitude, community, and compassionate ministry. He offers this path to us, convinced that it will be fruitful for you and me.

Henri is a credible guide. He walked the talk of this spirituality throughout his life. He fought demons along his own journey and stood with others as they fought their demons. He learned not to be afraid of sufferinghis own, that of others, or the suffering of the world.

Above all, Henri strove to live a faithful life. He wanted to be faithful to God, to his own unique gifts, to his community, and to the cry of suffering he heard all around him. His spiritual vision for living is grounded in his desire to live in the truth of his life. Is that not the aspiration of us all?

By entering into solitude, engaging others in relationship, and reaching into the suffering of the world with compassion, Henri found his truth. He also found a peace that passes understanding.

This book will guide us to that same place.

Nathan Ball

The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust

T he further an editor advances in a publishing series, the more appreciation he or she must have for the support team that accompanies the appearance of each new volume. Certainly that is true for the book you are holding. Its winsome proportions and open design are due to the creative energies of Resa Pearson and Elaine Go of Pearson and Company in Santa Clara, California. Designer Nelson Kane burnished the cover to achieve its luminous vitality. Access to the manuscripts from which this one draws its substance would have been considerably more time-consuming were it not for the generous assistance of Gabrielle Earnshaw, careful steward of the Henri Nouwen Archives at the University of St. Michaels College in Toronto. Safe passage of the content through the land of rights and permissions would have been more difficult save for the expert advice and detailed research of Kathryn Smith at the Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. Her editorial suggestions and those of Trustees Sue Mosteller and Nathan Ball have strengthened the text in numerous ways. Special gratitude belongs to Nathan for making time in a fearsome schedule to write the Preface.